Everyone Is Watching is a solid locked-room thriller with a fun, high-stakes premise. I enjoyed the reality show setup and the tension that built as secrets began to unravel. The characters were distinct enough to keep me engaged, and the pacing moved quickly without dragging.

While it didn’t leave a lasting impression or completely blow me away, it was an entertaining, well-constructed mystery that I’d recommend to fans of twisty, isolated thrillers. A good, fast-paced read with just enough intrigue to keep you guessing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I had high expectations from this book as I previously loved The Overnight Guest but this book was a let down for me. The story was not engaging and I thought the ending was predictable. Overall a good book but not as good as the other book.

When I started Everyone Is Watching, I was genuinely excited—I've read and enjoyed several of Heather Gudenkauf’s previous books, and I was hoping for another gripping read. The premise was intriguing, and it definitely had potential.

However, once I got into the story, I found myself struggling to keep up with the many characters and shifting points of view. The frequent changes in perspective made it hard to stay engaged, and I found it difficult to connect with any one character. Unfortunately, that confusion led to a loss of interest, and I ended up skimming through most of the book just to see how it ended.


While the writing was solid and the idea compelling, the execution just didn’t land for me this time. That said, I’m still a fan of Gudenkauf’s work and will continue to check out her future releases.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for my digital ARC via NetGalley. As always, my reviews are my own and unbiased opinions.

This suspense/thriller is about 5 contestants on a brand new, internet only reality competition show competing for ten million dollars. But it quickly becomes clear that they all have their own secrets from their past - and that things are pretty dangerous on this show!

Told from the alternating POVs of the producer and several of the contestants in both the present and the past, and occasionally from viewers or forum comments, there is A LOT going on in this one, and all the jumping around sometimes interrupts the narrative momentum. Plus it’s a little crazy and gets even crazier towards the end as is not uncommon in these types of books. Reasonably entertaining though.

Dnf at 42%. I absolutely loved the Overnight Guest from this author, but this one I just couldn’t get into. I’m not sure if it was the reality tv/influencer aspect of it or what. I’m definitely still open to more from this author and am looking forward to what she puts out next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for an ARC of this title. When I first started it I had thoughts of Ruth Ware’s One Perfect Couple, but it was not like that at all. The characters were likable. As the story unfolded it was easy to follow how the characters were connected. I had no idea what direction the storyline was going in, but I throughly enjoyed this read and will read more books by this author. This is one I will make sure my library owns and will recommend!

What in the world?! So many unlikeable characters. The show premise was very interesting and would be a viral hit IRL. I didn’t even know how I wanted it to end up but it kept me intrigued and I was looking forward to finding out the end. Solid book and I look forward to reading more!

This is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that had me hooked from the start. Heather Gudenkauf masterfully weaves together a cast of complex characters, each with their own secrets, as they navigate a high-stakes reality show with a sinister twist. The tension builds steadily, and the eerie isolation of the setting adds to the suspense. While some twists were more predictable than others, the fast-paced storytelling and psychological depth kept me engaged until the very end. A must-read for fans of locked-room thrillers and reality show dramas with a dark edge!

Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for this book!

IT’S A YES FOR ME 👏🏼

After recently reading One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware, I realized that THIS is how you do a “reality tv show” plot. Heather Gudenkauf writes such twisty reads packed full of secrets.

I absolutely loved all the characters and how their stories came together, but I will say that it was a little confusing to keep track of all the characters at first. The characters are an unlikeable bunch, which I am always here for! I enjoyed the ending and how it all came together!

This book is definitely a fun one and would make for a great vacation/summer read! ☀️

4⭐️

This was such a fast read for me! And probably one of the best "reality show" plots I've read. I was bothered by some of the bad decision-making, but that's true of most novels. It's like watching a horror movie when the MC is about to go down to the dark basement without a flashlight, but it adds to the suspense. Heather Gudenkauf kept me guessing and entertained.

Everyone Is Watching is a tense, twisty psychological drama that keeps you second-guessing at every turn. Gudenkauf’s ability to build suspense makes it a real page-turner.

I read this one in a single day and couldn't put it down. House chores be damned when I have a book like this in my hands. The way the characters slowly revealed their story, in tandem with the reality TV show backdrop was a stellar combination for me. All at once, everything clicked before the "big reveal" so it wasn't as twisty for me. But the characters were well-written and the plot line kept me reading. This is my third book I've read by Heather Gudenkauf and I know I'm in good hands when I'm reading something she's written.

I read my first book by Heather Gudenkauf for book club earlier this year and absolutely loved it so quickly grabbed this one when i saw it as an option. I love a good thriller and this did not disappoint at all. Thanks so much for the copy!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.
Unfortunately, this wasn't for me. This is probably me thing, where I am just not into reality show drama and thrillers. I did not like the main character and her whole identity being around her children and her being a mom. The twists were not as seamless for me as I wanted them to be. I would still read future books by this author, just not about reality shows.

I wasn't sure if I was going to be into a story about a reality show, but this ended to being a fun read. I liked the lock door thriller aspect to it and the intensity the games brought to the story and various characters.

The characters themselves are complex and well-developed, making it easy to empathize with them even when they make questionable choices. The way their lives intersect and impact each other is intricately woven, keeping the reader engaged until the very end.

However, I did find the pacing of the story to be a bit slow at times, and some plot points felt a bit predictable. But overall, "Everyone is Watching" is an emotionally charged read that will keep you captivated until the last page.

Another psychological thriller by HG that I enjoyed! This one explores the impact of surveillance and voyeurism in the digital age. The story follows a woman named Kit, who becomes obsessed with a true-crime documentary about a missing teenager. As she uncovers unsettling truths, her own life begins to unravel, and the lines between reality and fiction blur. Very fast paced and engaging which I love always to read!

Published earlier on in March of this year, Everyone is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf is a drama/thriller centred around participants on a reality TV show.

The stakes are high - whoever comes out on top of "One Lucky Winner" will receive ten million dollars. The show will be live streamed all over the world, but participants will be secluded in an estate in California for the duration. None know what to expect - and none know that their deepest, darkest secrets are about to become prime time viewing.

Think Squid Game, Survivor, that kind of thing - it's a fast paced thriller, with lots of twists and red herrings. I did enjoy it, but not as much as "The Overnight Guest" or "This is How I Lied", the two other books I've read by this author.

I didn't feel like I really got to know much about the characters as individuals, beyond the nicknames given to them (The Best Friend, The Boyfriend, The Senator, etc). In particular, I'd have liked more backstory on the people in charge of the show.

I think if you're looking for something to read that pokes fun at the way we behave on social media when it comes to reality TV, and how far people will go for money, then you might enjoy this. It's an ideal plane/train/waiting room read (not an insult) that flows along nicely and romps to a satisfying enough conclusion. It's entertaining, which is all I ask of a contemporary thriller.

I would read more by Heather Gudenkauf. I would recommend this one to fans of C.L. Taylor, Ruth Ware, or Claire Douglas.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade for granting me approval to read an eARC via Netgalley.

I love a locked room thriller and Everyone is Watching brought a fun twist to that classic trope. Following five contestants on a reality show from hell, it was fascinating to watch the pieces unravel and secrets revealed. I loved the pacing of the book and the multiple POV’s, they definitely kept me intrigued. This was my first book by Heather Gudenkaf and I look forward to reading more!

Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this book.

Thank You to NetGalley for the free e-ARC.

Heather Gudenkauf is one of my favorite authors. I liked this book, but did not feel like it was her best book. I loved the short chapters, the varied characters, and a few of twists and turns. The storyline of a game show was fun. The characters were interesting and I liked some and disliked others. I did figure out some of the twist and turns, but never guessed the ending.